Girdle structure



Aug. 8, 1967 A. J. JONES GIRDLE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 10, 1965 INVENTOR, /25 Ann .1 Jones fi k g/fi zzfifl United States Patent 3,334,634 GIRDLE STRUCTURE Anu J. Jones, 2963 Robin Road, Memphis, Tenn. 38111 Filed Feb. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 431,602 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-535) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An undergarment which includes depending horizontally elongated inner and outer flaps and fastening means carried between the flaps to detachably connect hosiery to the undergarment and with the inner flap shielding the attachment means away from the flesh of the wearer.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in undergarments of the girdle or corset variety which are utilized by many persons, particularly of the female sex, and is specifically directed to providing a new and improved means of interconnecting hosiery with undergarments for the support of the hose against falling down along the legs of the wearer.

Heretofore there have been many means suggested for use in connection with girdles or undergarments of a similar type, and which have utilized various bulky, uncomfortable, and unsightly means for the interconnection of the upper edges of hosiery with the undergarment, resulting in distortion of the external lines of a covering gown or dress under which the undergarment may be used, and at many times proving to be uncomfortable in use, as Well as in other instances substantially inefficient in providing the purpose of supporting the hose as desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel undergarment means, particularly of the girdle type, in which new and useful means are provided for engaging and supporting the hose of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an undergarment in which the lower edges thereof are provided with a pair of depending flaps, the innermost of the flaps closely engaging with the leg of the wearer and being provided with a plurality of button-like elements, and the outermost of the flaps being flexible and overlying the innermost flap and being provided with a series of registering buttonholes for mating over the buttons on the inner flap in order that the edge of the hose to be supported may be engaged between the button and buttonhole and thus held securely in place with a minimum of protrusion beyond the garment surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means of detachably interconnecting hose with undergarments for supporting the hose; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and efiiciency of undergarments particularly of the girdle or corset type.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an undergarment shown in the form of a girdle incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken as on the line ]1--II of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line II11 of FIG. 1, showing the interengagement of an item of hosiery with a part of the attaching means of the present invention.

3,334,634 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present invention is applied to a ladies undergarment, which is here illustrated in the form of a girdle 11, although the invention is equally applicable to other types of ladies undergarmonts, such as corsets, underpants and other so-called unmentionable items.

Girdle 11 is provided with a pair of leg portions 13 adapted snugly to engage around the legs of the wearer and to remain in supporting position for the person and parts of the wearer. It will be seen that the illustrated undergarment is a so-called panty girdle and that it is obvious that the device of the invention may be applied to other comparable structures.

Connected to and extending below the lowermost portion of the garment 11 is an inner flap 15 which is substantially coextensive with the lower edge of the garment and extends therealong and depends therebelow. Inner flap 15 may be integral with the garment if desired, or may be attached separately thereto. In the case of a girdle or corset without pant or leg divisions the inner flap would be a coextensive flap extending around the edge of the garment, whereas in the form of the girdle 11, which is a panty girdle, the inner flap is provided to extend around each of the leg portions 13. Externally of inner flap 15 and coextensive therewith is provided an outer flap 17 which is formed of resilient and flexible material.

Mounted on inner flap 15 at spaced intervals are buttons 19 which project outwardly away from the inner flap. Outer flap 17 is provided with a similar series of mating buttonholes 21 which are adapted in the use of the device to engage over buttons 19 and to interengage with a piece of fabric such as the upper portion of a stocking interposed therebetween. It will be observed that the buttons 19 are spaced along the front and rear portions of the leg engaging parts of the garment and that the registering buttonholes 21 correspond therewith. This is applicable either to the garment with leg portions 13, such as the panty girdle illustrated, or to a girdle without leg portions, or to a corset without leg portions, or to other garments with or without leg portions. The outer flap 17, in which are formed buttonholes 21, is a flexible and resilient outer flap, which preferably is separably connected with the lower edge portion of the garment and depends therebelow, overlying the inner flap 15 and provides ready accessibility to the buttonholes for engagement with the buttons 19 when the garment is in use.

As readily can be seen in the use of the device the present arrangement provides a spacing for attachment of the upper edges of stockings or other items of hosiery so as to eliminate unsightly sagging of the upper hem of the hosiery, and enhances the comfort of the user by eliminating the bulky fasteners which have heretofore been used. It is also preferred that the buttonholes 21 be reinforced, as by a patch 23 preferably of non-resilient material, surrounding buttonholes 21 and eliminating the opportunity of strain and tear at that area.

In the use of the device the extensions comprising flaps 15 and 17 are added to the undergarment. As previously indicated, the inner flap 15 may be formed integrally with the undergarment and extend therebelow or may be formed separately and attached thereto. The outer flap 17 is preferably formed separately and is attached to the exterior of the garment and depends therebelow overlying the inner flap. With the buttonholes 21 and buttons 19 positioned in registering alinement, and with the flaps provided for the garment, the device may be put to use with the upper portion of a stocking 25 moved upwardly between flaps 15, 17, and the upper edge of the stocking being engaged over the buttons 19. When so engaged buttonhole 21 is moved into position overlying the engaged portion of the stocking and the registered button 19, and securely fastens the stocking in position against sagging or slipping, ,while being readily detachable for removal of the stocking when the same is desired.

It will be understood that buttons 19 may be connected to the outer flap 17 and project inwardly with buttonholes 21 being formed in inner flap 15 to engage there with. Also other forms of mating fasteners may be used.

I claim:

1. In an undergarment, means for attaching stockings to said undergarment for support against sagging and slipping, said means comprising (A) inner flap means secured to the lower edge of said undergarment and depending therebelow,

(1) said inner'flap means being of horizontally elongated length, and (2) having a relatively narrow vertical length,

(B) outer flap means secured to the lower edge of said undergarment and depending therebelow, said outer flap means vertically overlying said inner flap means and being substantially coextensive in horizontal and vertical lengths with the lengths of said inner flap means,

(C) mating fastening means, having the mating parts respectively carried by said inner and outer flap means for engaging a segment of stocking introduced there-between, said fastening means including (1) first mating portions (a) mounted upon the outer surface of said inner flap means, housed between said inner and outer fiap means,

(b) said inner flap means underlying said first mating portions so that the inner surface of said inner flap means shields said first mating portions away from contact with the flesh of the wearer,

(c) said first mating portions being spaced apart along the length of said inner flap means, and being contained within the, vertical length of said flap means,

' 4 (2) second mating portions carried by said outer flap means (a) for fastening engagement with said first mating portions,

(b) said second mating portions being spaced apart along said outer flap means in substantial register with the first mating portions, and contained Within the vertical length of said outer flap means,

whereby upon detachable engagement of said mating parts an upper segment of a stocking may be attached between said flap means, and the wearer is shielded from the stocking segment and against contact with said fastening means.

2. Means in accordance with claim 1-, in which said first mating portions comprise male fastener portions and said second mating portions comprise female fastener portions.

3. Means in accordance with claim 2, in which said male fastener portions comprise buttons on said outer surface of said inner flap means and said female fastener portions comprise buttonholes carried by said outer flap means.

References Cited ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN UNDERGARMENT, MEANS FOR ATTACHING STOCKINGS TO SAID UNDERGARMENT FOR SUPPORT AGAINST SAGGING AND SLIPPING, SAID MEANS COMPRISING (A) INNER FLAP MEANS SECURED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID UNDERGARMENT AND DEPENDING THEREBELOW, (1) SAID INNER FLAP MEANS BEING OF HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED LENGTH, AND (2) HAVING A RELATIVELY NARROW VERTICAL LENGTH, (B) OUTER FLAP MEANS SECURED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID UNDERGARMENT AND DEPENDING THEREBELOW, SAID OUTER FLAP MEANS VERTICALLY OVERLYING SAID INNER FLAP MEANS AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE IN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LENGTHS WITH THE LENGTHS OF SAID INNER FLAP MEANS, (C) MATING FASTENING MEANS, HAVING THE MATING PARTS RESPECTIVELY CARRIED BY SAID INNER AND OUTER FLAP MEANS FOR ENGAGING A SEGMENT OF STOCKING INTRODUCED THEREBETWEEN, SAID FASTENING MEANS INCLUDING (1) FIRST MATING PORTIONS (A) MOUNTED UPON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INNER FLAP MEANS, HOUSED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER FLAP MEANS, (B) SAID INNER FLAP MEANS UNDERLYING SAID FIRST MATING PORTIONS SO THAT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID INNER FLAP MEANS SHIELDS SAID FIRST MATING PORTIONS AWAY FROM CONTACT WITH THE FLESH OF THE WEARER, (C) SAID FIRST MATING PORTIONS BEING SPACED APART ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID INNER FLAP MEANS, AND BEING CONTAINED WITHIN THE VERTICAL LENGTH OF SAID FLAP MEANS, (2) SECOND MATING PORTIONS CARRIED BY SAID OUTER FLAP MEANS (A) FOR FASTENING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST MATING PORTIONS, (B) SAID SECOND MATING PORTIONS BEING SPACED APART ALONG SAID OUTER FLAP MEANS IN SUBSTANTIAL REGISTER WITH THE FIRST MATING PORTIONS, AND CONTAINED WITHIN THE VERTICAL LENGTH OF SAID OUTER FLAP MEANS, WHEREBY UPON DETACHABLE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID MATING PARTS AN UPPER SEGMENT OF A STOCKING MAY BE ATTACHED BETWEEN SAID FLAP MEANS, AND THE WEARER IS SHIELDED FROM THE STOCKING SEGMENT AND AGAINST CONTACT WITH SAID FASTENING MEANS. 